Families with kids need toy chests to hide all the clutter kids tend to collect as they grow up. Various toy chests are available in stores, but why not try to construct one yourself and make it customized to your wishes? All you need are a few tools and materials to accomplish this simple task.

 

Things you will need

  • 3/4-inch plywood
  • Hinges
  • Flat head screws
  • Deck screws
  • Carpenter square
  • Circular saw
  • Pencil
  • Wood glue
  • Screwdriver
  • Sandpaper
  • Paint
  • Paintbrush

 

 

Instructions

  1. Make a rough sketch of the toy chest you want to build. Make a note of the size you want and list the parts needed for the chest on this sketch.

 

  1. Cut the plywood to the sizes you want for the chest. Cut the top, bottom, back and front.

 

  1. We made the measurements of each part in these dimensions: 18 x 36 for the back and front parts, 16.5 x 34.5 inches for the bottom, 19 x 37 inches for the top, and 17. 25 x 16.5 inches for the 2 ends.

 

  1. Mark the pieces lightly with a pencil to know which one is what.

 

  1. Apply glue to the edges of the back and front pieces to begin assembling the box.

 

  1. Then add a bar clamp to the piece to hold them in place and screw them together.

 

  1. Apply glue to the sides of the bottom end pieces, and place them in the clamps. Screw the front and the back and the bottom to the end of the box.

 

  1. Screw the heads below the panel’s surface, and apply wood putty on and countersunk holes.

 

  1. Use the sandpaper to sand down the box.

 

  1. Apply paint over the box.

 

  1. Attach the top of the chest with a piano hinge placed in the center of the lid’s back edge.